Rangers don't let red card faze them against Clemens

Updated 12:16 am, Saturday, March 24, 2012

Hailey Ardoin of Clemens High SChool controls the ball against Smithson Valley during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Hailey Ardoin of Clemens High SChool controls the ball against Smithson Valley during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 2 of 8

Emma Gibson of Clemens kicks the ball during soccer action against Smithson Valley at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Emma Gibson of Clemens kicks the ball during soccer action against Smithson Valley at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 3 of 8

Smithson Valley's Mariah Burt, left, and Senait Gordon of Clemens chase the ball during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Smithson Valley's Mariah Burt, left, and Senait Gordon of Clemens chase the ball during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 4 of 8

Senait Gordon, left, of Clemens and Shuned Kirkpatrick (9) of Smithson Valley collide after heading the ball during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Senait Gordon, left, of Clemens and Shuned Kirkpatrick (9) of Smithson Valley collide after heading the ball during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San

Mickey Garcia (1) of Clemens kicks the ball as Mikaylah Collins of Smithson Valley defends during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Mickey Garcia (1) of Clemens kicks the ball as Mikaylah Collins of Smithson Valley defends during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 6 of 8

Gabby Rodriguez of Smithson Valley heads the ball during girls soccer action against Clemens at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Gabby Rodriguez of Smithson Valley heads the ball during girls soccer action against Clemens at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 7 of 8

Maya Westbrook of Clemens, left, and Gabby Rodriguez of Smithson Valley battle during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Maya Westbrook of Clemens, left, and Gabby Rodriguez of Smithson Valley battle during girls soccer action at Clemens High School on Friday, March 23, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Billy Calzada, Express-News

Image 8 of 8

Rangers don't let red card faze them against Clemens

1 / 8

Back to Gallery

Smithson Valley senior defender Cristina Folsom makes no secret of what she thinks is the most integral part of soccer.

As she sees it, a team's chances of winning drops drastically if it doesn't score any goals.

The ideology was never more relevant than it was during the No. 8 Rangers' 1-0 victory over No. 10 Clemens in a key District 53-4A game at Lehnhoff Stadium on Friday.

Despite playing the final 72½ minutes with 10 players after sweeper Pauline Fields was given a red card, Smithson Valley held the Buffaloes at bay.

With the victory -- and New Braunfels Canyon's scoreless tie against Dripping Springs -- the Rangers (10-5-7, 6-1-3) earned a share of the 53-4A title along with Dripping Springs. Those teams split their two district meetings, each winning 1-0, so either a coin flip or a play-in game will be used to determine postseason seeding.

Clemens (15-5-2, 6-2-2), which had a chance to grab at least a share of the district title going into the night, fell to third and will play Boerne Champion in the first round.

"Defense is the most important aspect of the game," Folsom said. "I'm kind of bias, of course, because I'm a defender. But you can't lose if you have a good defense.''